Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
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Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support By and Between Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa And Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction This Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support (hereinafter referred to as the “MOU”) is effective as of January 4, 2018, and is entered into by and between the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, 13394 West Trepania Road, Hayward, WI 54876 and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 125 South Webster Street, Madison, WI 5370-7841 for the purpose of addressing issues of mutual interest to the parties regarding the education of school- age members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. RECITALS: Whereas, the issues of mutual interest include promoting positive perceptions and improving the nature and scope of interactions between the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction; and, Whereas, the intention of this MOU is to provide a framework for respectful and cooperative communication that utilizes consensus building for improving programs and services; and, Whereas, the primary outcome intended by this MOU is to improve the planning, communication, and coordination between the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa regarding programs affecting the education of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa tribal members; and, Whereas, the parties intend to clarify their relationship to establish a common understanding regarding their roles, responsibilities, and procedures that will facilitate best practices between our agencies; and, Whereas, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, under the supervision of the state superintendent, has authority under the Wisconsin Constitution to oversee public education in the state; and, Whereas, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a sovereign nation overseeing the education of their tribal members; and, 1 Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support Whereas, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will maintain a commitment to engaging students in both public and traditional cultural education, including the implementation of building Ojibwe language fluency rates, training language teachers, working with the staff at Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School on a language revitalization strategic plan, holding regular community Language Tables built from Immersion Language Camp weekends, and keeping an updated inventory of both available Ojibwe language resources and resources identified that may be needed in the future; and Whereas, both the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction have a responsibility for the provision of education to school- age tribal members, it is critical to the quality of services that staff and representatives from the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction understand and consult with one another to ensure that needed services are provided in an efficient, timely, culturally appropriate, and effective manner; and, Whereas, representatives of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction have met on multiple occasions to discuss matters affecting quality education and issues of mutual concern to the parties. Therefore, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction hereby resolve and agree they will mutually support and adhere to the following principles, and exert their best efforts in doing so. I. Parties Louis Taylor, Chairman Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 13394 West Trepania Road Hayward, WI 54876 (715) 634-893 Tony Evers, State Superintendent Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 125 South Webster Street Madison, WI 53707-7841 (608) 266-1212 [email protected] II. Meetings and Consultation A. Participation and Use. Either party can initiate a request for a meeting. Both parties agree to meet as needed, minimally one time each year in a face to face setting, in a time or place mutually agreed to by both parties, to identify issues of mutual concern, discuss strategies and work to address identified issues, and seek resolution at the local level where possible, to provide key contacts to advance work moving forward within the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 2 Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support Additionally, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction agrees to host a yearly meeting for all education directors and the leadership of each of the tribal nations in Wisconsin. B. Designation of Contacts. The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa agrees to identify primary contacts to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction agrees to do the same on all issues identified in this agreement. III. Communications The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction agrees to provide the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa with access to the same departmental listservs, social media, and published materials provided to public school districts. IV. Cultural Awareness Training The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction commits to providing ongoing cultural awareness training to all of its staff to ensure improved communication, service, and understanding in working with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and serving tribal students. Through its American Indian Studies Program established within the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction via Wisconsin Act 31 to support school districts’ efforts to provide instruction in Wisconsin American Indian history, culture, and tribal sovereignty, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is committed to statewide trainings and technical assistance to school districts and the development and dissemination of resources and materials to ensure best practices and quality in teaching and learning about the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of the eleven federally-recognized American Indian nations and tribal communities in the state of Wisconsin. V. Issues A. Increase Cultural Awareness and Understanding of the Tribal Nation The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction agrees to work with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to disseminate effective American Indian Studies curricula to local school districts per Wisconsin Act 31. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction further agrees to advocate with local school districts in the Lac Courte Oreilles area and professional associations representing educators to increase culturally responsive practices and provide technical assistance and additional background to support local school districts serving the Lac Courte Oreilles community in tribal culture, traditions, government, and sovereignty 3 Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support B. Intergovernmental Cooperation The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction agrees to work with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to determine if any matters of mutual concern need to brought forward to other state agencies. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction further commits to providing technical supports to the local school districts serving the Lac Courte Oreille community on constructing agreements with the Lac Courte Oreille Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. C. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa agree to coordinate around tribal and state goals and educational plans under ESSA as there is a historical gap between native and non- native students that needs to be addressed. Closing achievement gaps and graduation gaps will be a high priority between Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the tribe. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction commits to providing technical support to the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and local school districts serving their students to meet tribal and state goals. D. Charter School Supports The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction agrees to provide technical assistance to the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College around charter school operations and management and to support educational efforts to close achievement gaps for American Indian students. E. Special Education The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will provide technical assistance to the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa around the appropriate identification of students for special education services and information on 504 plans administered by the United States Department of Education. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will collaborate with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa regarding factors affecting speech and language identification, the impact of heritage language on language acquisition, and work being done around English language acquisition. F. Trauma Informed Care. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will provide access to any educational opportunities around trauma-informed care available to school districts with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and will make local schools serving